Portable binding machine and pegboard



July 22, 1952 c, E, EMMER 2,603,801

PORTABLE BINDING MACHINE AND PEGBOARD Filed March 10, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z za n 122 nmmnrYnn/nnnn Pfnnn @57 I531 11 Q 22 I 2 2+.

n/nmrTnnnnnm /nnnn -2 i 3* iii 38 CHARLES EDWARD ENHER.

big @yMM July 22, 1952 c, E, EMMER 2,603,801

PORTABLE BINDING MACHINE AND PEGBOARD Filed March 10, 1947 4 Sheets-Shee t 2 jnyefiib? CHARLES EDWARD EMMER.

y 22, 1952 c. E. EMMER 2,603,801

PORTABLE BINDING MACHINE AND PEGBOARD Filed March 10, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ;g 7 ZZZ/E1721: r

CHARLE a EDWARD EMHER.

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J y 22, 1952 c. E. EMMER 2,603,801

PORTABLE BINDING MACHINE AND PEGBOARD Filed March 10, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 CHARLES EDWARD EMMER 2/241 E U Z5.

Patented July 22, 1952 PORTABLE BINDING MACHINE AND PEGBOARD Charles' Edward Emmer, Chicago, Ill.,.assignr to General Binding Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois I Application MarchlO, 1947,"Serial No. 733,578

. SClaims.

. 1 My invention relates to small, compact portable binding machines for binding perforated sheets with a back member such as a flexible element of plastic material or 'the like by opening the fingers of the binding element to permit easy assembly of sheets thereon.

Specifically/theinvention deals with a binding machine and .peg board that opens resilient curledv fingers of .a back member and is suitable for office :use,'.be'ing. lig'ht'in weight',-easily stored, and conveniently operated by hand on a desk or table. c

.It .is a further object =of the -inventionto provide a lightweight' compact portable bindingmachineadapted to be operatedby unskilled workers .andzarranged to receive and open the curled fingers -of a binding element so that perforated sheets .can be easily threaded "on the fingers.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a binding machine .for binding elements having flexible acurled fingers that are quickly opened by the machine without twisting or distorting the-back memberor theresilient fingers. Another object of the'invention is to provid "a binding machine for use with binding elements having a backbone and curled sheet-receiving fingers-openedby the-machine to form hooks for perforated sheets resting 'on a platform of the machine whereby the-sheets can be easily arranged for using the-machine as a peg board.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable hand-operated bindin machine for binding-books with bindin elements having flexible curled fingers and-which is useful with za varietyfoi back sizes and-shapes.

A still further object of they invention .is to provide Ia hand' operated portable "book binding machine with :a trigger-release imechanism to increase the-speed of the binding operation.

'Another specific iobject of the invention is to provide a *book binding machine for :use with binding elements "having curled resilient fingers wherein thebinding elements ar'e' m'erely dropped intorposition in'the .machinezand are held against distortion in recesses of the machine.

The novel 'features which I'believetobe'characteristic "of .my invention are "set forth in particularity in the appendedclaims." My invention; itself, however, both as to its organizationzand method.of operation-together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understoodby reference'to' the renew ng descriptionta'ken .in Iconnection with-the accompanyingdrawings. 1

As showniinthe "drawings through axis XI-XI :of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a side view of the left hand side or 'end of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken alon the line VV of Figure 4;

Figure '6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line VIVI ,of Figure 3;

Figure "7 is a top plan view showing how the machine of Figure 1 may be used as a peg board;

Figures -8 and -9 are side and fragmentary top views, respectively, showing a modification of my invention incorporating a quick release mech- 'anism;

Figure "10 is afragmentary cross sectional view through the axis X--X of Figure 2 illustrating how the spreader elements engage the fingers of 'the'binding element and Figures 11 and .12 .are cross sectional views and XIIXII of Figure 2, respectively.

As shown on the drawings: As willbe evident from examination of Figuresl to 4. the machine of my invention may be divided intothree components, the irame'structure 2'I,'the binding element opening mechanism .25, and the operating mechanism 36. The frame serves as a support upon which the various operative elements are mounted and also provides a sustaining surface for the sheets .of paper or the like bound by the binding element, the binding element opening mechanism serves to grip and support the binding element opening, and the operating mechanism serves to actuate the binding element opening mechanism. A binding element 22 is shown mounted in the machine and has a backbone portion 2| from which curled fingers 23 project at spaced intervals.

The-binding element opening mechanism- 25 includes ashiftable backboard orsupport member 20 upon which binding element22 is placedgfor opening. This support; includes a plurality of forwardly extending teeth 24 each of which has an upwardly extending tip portion 26, which-maybe seen in side view in Figure 4. Backing plate 2.8 is attached to support member 20 immediately below that member and is provided with a plurality of depressed portions 30 to coact with nondepressed adjacent portions in forming grooves for receiving and supporting the fingers of the binding element 22. The shape of these depressed portions 30 will be evident from examination of Figures 4 and 10.

A spreader mechanism 32 is provided to engage the curled fingers of the binding element to open the fingers from the position shown in Figure 1" to that of Figure 2. This spreader may, for example, include a plate of transparent plastic material or other suitable material as shown and is provided with a plurality of extending hook ele-.

ments 34 to engage the fingers 23 of binding element 22, each hook having a forwardly extending portion 33 which extends in the spaces between the fingers within the binding element 22 when the spreader 32 is positioned as in Figure 1 and a sidewardly extending portion 3| also fitting in these same spaces between the fingers but arranged to engage the fingers 23 of binding element 22 when the machine is shifted to the position of Figure 2.

The operation of the machine in opening the binding element 22 from the position of Figure l to that of Figure 2 may best be understood by reference to Figures 1, 2, 11, and 12, the latter two figures consisting of cross-sectional views through the indicated cross-sections of Figures 1 and 2. In the positions of Figures 1 and 11, the backboard or support member 20 and the spreader 32 are positioned relative to each other so that the hook elements 34 extend within binding element 22 but are in interleaved relation with the fingers 23 thereof. That is, the elements 34 of spreader 32 are aligned with the upwardly extending portions 26 of support 20 so that the hook portions 3| do not engage the fingers 23 and'the binding element 22 may be positioned by simply laying it across the mechanism as shown in Figure 1. In this position the backbone 2| of the binding element 22 is in engaging relationship with the upwardly extending portions 26 of support 20, al-

though no pressure is exerted therebetween other than that associated with the tendency of bindhooked over the portions 26 is supported on backing plate 28, this plate being in engagement with the curled fingers 23.

As will be described in further detail hereafter, the spreader 32 and the backboard 2!] are moved relative to each other so as to move hooks 34 parallel to the backbone 2| and then to retract. these hooks transversely to the direction of the backbone 2| until the position shown in FigureZ is finally reached. This motion is accomplished by first sliding support 20 and backing plate 28 in the direction of the backbone 2| so as to cause portions 3| of the hooks 34 to extend within fingers 23., and then retracting spreader 32 so as to engage the fingers 23 and open them to the position of Figure 2. In the condition of Figure 2, the elements 34 engage the corresponding fingers 23 of binding element 22, and pull these fingers to uncurl them as shown in Figure 12. The backbone 2| of binding element 22 is held by the upwardly extending portions 26 of support member2|3 so as to anchor the binding element. As will be evident from Figure 12, in this condition the binding element is open so asto leave only an upwardly projecting end portion of "each finger 23, and perforated material such as paper or the like may be inserted by threading it on these projecting ends of the fingers.

Figure 10 shows clearly how the portions 3| of hook elements 34 of spreader 32 engage the separate fingers 23 of binding element 22 so as to pull these fingers in direction away from support 23 and backing plate 28 and unwind the fingers. This view further shows how the fingers 23 of binding element 22 rest in depressed portions 3|] of backing plate 28, which portions are disposed so as to engage the separate fingers 23.

It is the purpose of the operating mechanism shown generally at 36 to move the spreader 32 from non-engaging condition shown in Figure 1 to the finger opening or engaging position shown in Figure 2. To this end, mechanism 33 includes an operating handle 38 attached to shaft 4|] so that rotation of the handle causes corresponding rotation of the shaft. As will be evident from examination of Figures 3, 5 and 6, a pair of cam cranks 42 are mounted upon shaft 4|]. A pair, of crank rods 44 extend from cam cranks 42 to the downwardly extending portions 46 of spreader 32. These portions are anchored to spreader 32 so that as shaft 40 is rotated in the clockwise direction as seen in Figure 6, spreader 32 is retracted to a spaced position relative to support 20. The downwardly extending portions 46 of spreader 32 are connected by rod 48, Figure 3, which is biased by spring 50 to urge spreader 32 to the non-engaging position shown in Figures 1 and 3, so that the spreader 32 and support 20 are naturally positioned inthe binder element receiving condition of Figure 1. In additionto shifting spreader 32 to a spaced position relative to support 20, the cams 42 operate to slide support 20 relative to spreader 32 in the direction of the backbone of binding element 22. This is accomplished by the cam portions 52 of the cam cranks 42. As will be evident from Figure 5, these portions of the cam cranks 42 are bent in the direction of the backbone of the binding element 22, Figure 1 and ride against rotatable followers 54. The followers 54 are attached to support member 20 by pivots 56 so that rotation of shaft 40 associated with operation of handle 38 causes support 20 and backing plate 28, together with binding element 22 thereon, to shift relative to spreader 32 and the remainder of the unit; Positive operation of the cam portion of cam cranks 42 is achieved by arranging the cranks so that they engage opposite sides of the followers 54, thus causing one cam 42 to oppose motion of support member 20 in one direction and the other to oppose motion of support 20 in the opposite direction. This structure will be evident from Figure 5.

It is thus evident that support 20 and backing plate 28 assume a position in the direction of the axis of the backbone of binding element 22 determined by the position of the operating handle 38 on shaft 4|] and spreader 32 assumes a position in direction transverse to the direction of the backbone of binding element 22 also determined by the position of handle 38. Inasmuch as cam elements 52 are shaped so as to cause support member 20 to complete its shifting operation before appreciable motion of spreader 32 takes place, the binding element 22 is shifted from the non-engaging position shown in Figure 1 to a position where portions 3| of hook elements 34 are capable of engaging fingers 23 before appreciable movement of spreader 32 in the retracting or binding element opening direction takes place. Spreader "32 is thereby positioned relative to binding element 22 so as to engage the extending ffingers v23 :of binding element :22, thus :causing the binding-element to assume the -open position of ."Figure .2 upon :further vrotation of handle 38 and the consequent'retraction-of spreader v32.

It will be observed that rotation :of handle 3 8 acts to movesupport20 and'backing'plate 28 as a unit "since these two elements are-attached to 'each 'other by screws 56, Figures 11 and 12.

Since the binding-element 22 :is supported in its -entirety by these :elements, this motion of support 20 and backing plate -28"has no tendency'to I distort the backbone'of'binding element :22 or twist the fingers =23 but on the contrary-provides a complete supporting assembly which is shifted as a unit. Thus the only efiect of thefmachine on the binding element is to unwind the fingers to the-extent necessary to open them to a condition to receive a perforated :medium such as paper. v

The function-of latch -58, Figure 4,--is to hold spreader 32 against the-action ofspringill when in the positionshownin Figure '2. To this end, latch 58 is mounted-onr-pivot -60-of -handle 38 so as to engage pin 62 when pulled to the position 'shownin Figure 2. -Latch-58isbiased to thepin engaging and pressure sustaining position .-by :spring 64 which urges operating knob -6B;to a spaced relationship with cleat -68 which is mounted on handle '38, thereby urging rod-10 in the direction of the axis-of handle :38 andtending to 'rotate latch 58 in the clockwise direction about-pivot 60. Thus, as the handle .3.8 is rotated to the positionshown in li'igurel wherethefingersll of binding element 22 are unwound, the latch 58 engages pin 62 and thehandlemay be released without -causing spring-150 1170 return the .mechanism to .the position shown in Figure 1.

in order to accommodate binding elements of v diiferent diameters-and sizes, .pin .62 is provided with a square head .portionwhich.may be in- .serted into anyone of aplurality of correspondingly shaped openings L2 in .curveddetent or support member .14. 'Selectiono'f an appropriate opening '12 permits choice of the separation of spreader 132 and support 20 when latch 58 engages, thus permitting adjustment of the-machine in accord withthe size of'the binding element to be opened.

Figure '7 shows one method of utilizing my improved-binding machine -as-a peg board. The binding e1ement2'2 ismounted on'the unitLinthe normal fashion and'handle 38 "is rotated to open or unwind the fingers 23 so as-topermit removal and-insertion-o'f sheets-oflpaper oriother medium. In this .condition,'the fingers 23 extend upwardly from the upper surface .plate 16 of the binder. It is thus possible to .mount a plurality of .perforatedsheets. 1'8, 1811,181), .etc., .in aligned side by side .relation, partially .overlappedcif -.des'ired, by threading the upstanding Jfinger -portions ..-selectively through the perforations. A ='l'-square or similar device 80 may then :be used to locate a particular llineacross all the-sheets .to enable the operator to study the entries on this common line of the several :sheets and to .alter these entries as desired. In this fashion the portable binding machine not only operates as a device to-permit convenientbinding ofsheets 1.8, 1811,1817, etc in the binding element 22 butfalso enables convenient utilization and change "of the information contained on a plurality 'of 1 sheets.

.Figures 8 and .9 show an alternative embodi- :ment of my "invention having means -quicklyto release the handle 38 to :allow the binding-ele- 553 is engaged by :the extending -end of lever 84,

thereby disengaging -latch 58 from pin -62 and causing spring (Figure 3) 'to'return the mechanism to theposition-shown in Figure 1.

. Thedisengaging lever'84 appreciably increases the speedwithinwhich an'operator can assemble vari'oussheets to form a completebound volume for the reason that the operating :handle portion 92 is disposed relatively :fardown'on the upper surface plate 16 so asto -beiin-ia position'close to "the ::position naturally 'assumedby the hands of the operator when inserting pages in the binding element. The operator-can accordingly de-' ,lpress operating portions 92 with a simple hand motion and cause the binding element to assume 'the curled'or assembled'position.

Theabove descriptions will make it clear that the:porta'b1e binding'machine of this invention is easily operated'by unskilled workers whomerely 'drop the binding :element :into the machin so thatthe-binding element fingers lie in the. grooves of the support-mechanism '20 while the-back bone -of the binding element is :engaged by th teeth 26 between the grooves. The .handle -28 is then p'ulled'to rotate shaft 40 for'shiftingthe support mechanism to carry "the'fully :supported binding element fingers in the path of th hooks which, upon "further r'pulling of the :handle, are retracted awayffrom the back bone to open the fingers. The perforated sheetsare then threaded'on the open fingers which, even in their ,opened positions, have upstanding ho'okelikefr-ee ends to retain-the sheets. Thehan'dle is then released, the fingers'curl back under their own'power to their closed positions, and the :bound book is lifted 'from'thema'chine.

As will be evident from the drawings, the -ma- -'chine can accommodate binding 'elements'of dif- 'ferent'lengths and'diameters; Thus binding elements having fingers of different length, can be accommodated by the machine-since these fingers are opened to any predetermined .uncurledgposition by the variable setting for 'the retaining pin "62. If desired, ltWO or more independent binding operations can be simultaneously carried out'on themachine by merely placing the combsin'end to'endirelationonthe machine.

While I' have shown particular embodiments of 'my :invention, it 'will of "course be understood that I 'do not. wish to be limited thereto since many :modifications both in the elements employed in "their cooperative structure may be made without departing fromthe spirit andscope of my invention. I, *of course, contemplate by the appended Tolaims -to :cover any such modifica- 'tions='as fall within-the true spiritandscope of myin-vention.

'I-clainras my invention: a

.1. A'portablebinding machine fon-a book bind- .ing element having a' backbone and resilient curled fingers comprising airame, a backboard -mounted on said :-frame and :shiftable along M an axis thereon, said backboard having surfaces to support said fingers and having'elements to hold said backbone along an axis parallel to said first axis, a spreader shiftably mounted on said frame for motion in direction perpendicular to said first axis, said spreader having a plurality of hooks with ends extending in common direction to engage said fingers, a resilient device to urge said backboard and said spreader to relative positions wherein said hooks extend within said bindin'g'element and are in interleaved relation "with the fingers thereof, and an operating memthe longitudinal axis of the binding element 'to' open or unwind the fingers thereof.

2. A portable binding machine for a book binding element having a backbone and resilient curled fingers comprising a frame, a backboard mounted on said frame and shiftable along an axis thereon,'said board being shaped to support said fingers andhaving upwardly extending portions to hold haid backbone along an axis parallel to said first axis, a spreader shiftably mounted on said frame for motion along an axisperpendicular to said first axis, said spreader having a plurality of hooks with ends extending in a common direction to engage said fingers, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a cam mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, a crank connected to said cam and said spreader so that said spreader is shifted along said last axis as said shaft is rotated, said cam having a cam surface disposed to engage said backboard and extending in the direction of said first axis, said surface and said crank'being positioned'so'that rotation of said shaft causes 'said backboard to shift in amount to permit the ends of said hooks to engage said fingers and said spreader to shift to open said fingers, and

'a spring disposed to urge said spreader and said backboard to positions, relative to each other wherein said hooks extend within said binding element but in interleaved relation with the fingers thereof, whereby a binding element may be placed on said binder without engaging said hooks and said shaft may be rotated to open said bindingelement to a condition to receiveperfomounted on said frame so as to shift in direction perpendicular to the direction of shifting said backboard, said spreader having'a plurality of hooks with ends extending ina common direction to engage said fingers, said hooks being located along a common axis parallel to said back bone of said binding element, rockable means operatively connected with said backboard and I said spreader and operable to shift said backboard in the direction of a longitudinal axis of said binding element so as to cause said hooks to engage said fingers and to shift said spreader in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axis of the binding element so as to open said fingers to a position to receive perforated sheets of medium and adjustable means to retain said last means in one of several-predetermined positions and accommodate said spreader for various diameters of binding elements and to hold said fingers in an open position. L

4. A portable binding machine for a book binding elementhaving a backbone and resilient curled fingers comprising a frame, a backboard mounted on saidframe and shiftable along'an axis thereon, said backboard having surfaces to support said fingers and upwardly extending teeth to hold said backbone along an'axis parallel to said first axis, a" spreader shift'ably mounted on said frame for motion along an axis pera pendicul'ar to said first axis, said spreader having a plurality" of hooks with ends extending in a common'direction to engage said fingers, an

operatings haft rotatably mounted in said frame,

a cam mounted onsaid shaft to rotate therewith, a crank connected to said cam and said spreader so that said spreader is shifted along said last axis as said shaft is rotated, said cam having a 'cam' surface disposed to engage said backboard and extending in the direction of said first axis,

said cam surface and said crank being positioned tain said spreader in the finger opening condition, said means comprising a latch mounted to rotate with said shaft and a retaining member in'cooperative relationship with said latch so that said latch swings into engaging relation therewith upon predetermined rotation, and a release bar supported by said frame to disengage said latch and permit said spring to return said spreader and said backboard to said positions.

5. In a portable binding machine for use with resilient binding elements provided with a backbone portion and curled finger portions, a frame,

I a shiftable backboard on said frame for carrying a binding element, a spreader adapted for reciprocation on said frame relative to said backboard for engaging said finger portions of said binding element and an actuating mechanism carried by said framecomprising an operating element, a rotatable shaft controlled thereby, a cam on said shaft, a cam follower carried by said backboard and engageable with said cam and a link connected with said spreader and said cam whereby actuation of said operating element will rotate said shaft and move said cam to produce shifting of said backboard and reciprocation of said spreader.

6. In a portable binding machine for use with resilient binding elements provided with 'a backbone portion and curled finger portions, a frame, a shiftable backboard on said frame for carrying a binding element, a spreader adapted for reciprocation on said frame relative to said backboard for engaging said finger portions of said binding element and an actuating mechanism carried by said frame comprising an operating element, a'rotatabl'e shaft controlled thereby, a cam on said shaft, a cam follower carried by said backboard and engageable with said cam and a link connected with said spreader and said cam whereby actuation of said operating element will fingers, comprising: a frame, a backboard mounted on said frame for reciprocable movement in a rectilinear path between first and second positions, means defining spaced upright elements on said backboard aligned in the direction of movement thereof and arranged to extend between fingers of a binding element and engage the I backbone thereof, support means projecting from said backboard and having first surface portions aligned with the spaces between said upright elements for receiving the fingers of a binding element thereagainst and having means defining second surface portions at either side of and normal to said first surface portions for engaging the sides of the fingers of a binding element positioned on said backboard, a spreader having a, plurality of hooks extending toward said backboard in spaced relation to said first surface portions and aligned with said upright elements in said first position of said backboard, said backboard being movable from said first position to said second position to align the fingers of a positioned binding element with said hooks, and said spreader being rectilinearly movable on said frame generally parallel to said first surface portions and away from said spaced upright elements for engaging said hooks with the fingers of a positioned binding element and uncurling the fingers.

8. A portable binding machine for a book binding element having a backbone and resilient 10 curled fingers, comprising: a frame, a backboard mounted to shift along an axis on said frame and having elements to engage the backbone of said binding element, a spreader mounted on said frame so as to shift in direction perpendicular to the direction of shifting of said backboard, said spreader having a plurality of hooks with ends extending in a common direction to engage said fingers, said hooks being located along a common axis parallel to the backbone of said binding element, rockable means operatively connected with said backboard and said spreader and operable to shift said backboard in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the binding element so as to position the binding element fingers in engaging relation with said hooks and to shift said spreader in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the binding element so as to open or unwind the fingers thereof, and adjustable means to retain said rockable means in one of several predetermined positions and accommodate said spreader for various diameters of binding elements and to hold the fingers of the binding element in the open or unwound condition, and means to disengage said retaining means so as to quickly release the fingers to rebind said medium.

CHARLES EDWARD EMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,238,910 Henderson Sept. 4, 1917 2,257,714 Emmer Sept. 30, 1941 2,334,433 Nelson Nov. 16, 194.3 2,334,589 Spinner Nov. 16, 1943 2,334,815 Emmer Nov. 23, 1943 2,338,911 Emmer Jan. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 694,306 France 1.. Sept; 15, 1930 

